The Starbucks thing

I have no problem rushing in and using a Starbucks bathroom and leaving, mostly because I've spent plenty of dollars over the years at various Starbucks and I feel like slipping in to use the bathroom that day isn't a big deal. I don't hang out afterward, though.

At sj.com, we have an old reliable trope that goes something like "I've done that thing a dozen times", with the implication that it makes it okay. It doesn't.
You are using their place, please buy something. A cookie is a goddamned dollar. It just seems like one of those common courtesy things that makes the world run better.

If I am working in starbucks and a dude wants to use the toilet, and then just hang out, I'd be like 'here we go again'.

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That is not at all how Starbucks has marketed itself.

It is the neighborhood gathering place.

If it was a problem, at some point someone would have told me to buy something or GTFO. Instead it is standard procedure.

Our neighborhood Starbucks is across the street from a public high school. Before and after school, there are at least a hundred kids in there. Do you think all of them buy something?

Perhaps the key was the bathroom. Per the WaPoIn the Starbucks case, one or both of the men had asked to use the restroom before they purchased anything. A Starbucks employee told the men that the company policy was to refuse the use of bathrooms to non-customers and asked the men to leave, according to an account by Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross.

I have used the restroom in plenty of Starbucks when I'm traveling. It's my preferred place to pop a squat while on the road. 1.) I know it's usually pretty clean. 2.) I typically don't get any dirty looks for going straight to the restroom.

That being said, I can count on one hand the number of times I've used the restroom at Starbucks and didn't order a coffee to go.

As far as this "training" session, it is what it is -- a publicity stunt to stop boycotts. But I find it funny that by announcing this "racial-bias training" they're essentially admitting their Starbucks stores are racially insensitive. Otherwise their press release would state that Starbucks is sensitive to customers of all race, gender, religion, et al, and just say that the (two) incidents are not the norm for Starbucks franchises/employees.

Perhaps the key was the bathroom. Per the WaPoIn the Starbucks case, one or both of the men had asked to use the restroom before they purchased anything. A Starbucks employee told the men that the company policy was to refuse the use of bathrooms to non-customers and asked the men to leave, according to an account by Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross.

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I'm sure that's their policy written on Page 82 of some legal manual.

I'm sure there would also be hundreds of instances of white customers at this very Starbucks using the restroom before ordering anything.

You have to stop and take notice of what you are arguing, poin. These guys were ARRESTED for staying too long at a Starbucks. Arrested!

I am not arguing the arrest, or the overnight detention. I never mentioned those two items.

I am sympathetic to people who work in public service and have to deal with dreadful public interactions all day.

I think if you are a grown ass man, and are using the bathroom and hanging out at the starbucks like its your goddamned living room without buy a thing, you are fucking lame. That's all. There are no ifs, ands or buts about it in my opinion.

I will give the teenagers in your hometown a pass. They are lame. And they don't know how to tip either.